Young Villians give Lambs a final workout

FT: Tamworth 13 Aston Villa XI

02 August 2016After Saturday’s victory over Hednesford Town, Tamworth welcomed a largely U23 Villains side for the final pre-season run out ahead of the National North fixture away to Brackley Town.Belshaw denied Hepburn-Murphy early on and then Davis shot wide from the left of the area inside the second minute as Villa exerted some early pressure.Belshaw did well again to deny Davis on 4 when a threaded ball saw him advance into the area and turn the last man before curling a low shot which the keeper parried low.The Lambs took the lead on 11 when Burns picked the ball up on the right wing and struck from distance into the far right corner past the despairing dive of Steer. (1-0)Belshaw was perfectly positioned to deny Hepburn-Murphy again on 15 with a low block as the striker ran through into the area.A mix up at the back allowed Davis to square past the stranded Belshaw to Hepburn-Murphy and he fired home into the empty net from 12 yards on 19 (1-1)More pressure came from Villa on 23 as Sellars jinked into the left of the box and struck his shot against a defender and out for a corner which came to nothing.There was a deserved second goal for Hepburn-Murphy on 30 after tricky footwork and a one two in the area set him up with a powerful right footed finish home (1-2)On 35 Briscoe set himself up on the left of the box to fire across towards the far post in search of an equaliser, but it whistle past the upright and out.Lyden lined up a freekick and struck the bar from the dead ball chance on 37 and the first half drew to a close Tamworth edging it on possession but without further incident.

HT: Tamworth 12 Aston Villa XI

The second half was a difficult affair to watch and there was nothing much to write home about until the first subs just past the hour but Mills was unable to get through a stubborn back Villains line.Briscoe forced Leggett to head behind for a corner and Newton came on for Dyer before the flag kick which was almost forced home but Steer was well protected by his defence.Hepburn-Murphy struck a low shot from distance which Belshaw was not going to beaten by.Shouts for a penalty against Villa were waved away when Mills took a tumble in the box under pressure on 70.Davies struck straight into the arms of Steer on 76 as the gaffer got ready to come on, replacing Green who passed the captain’s armband to Belshaw.Villa struck their third through O'Hare's right footed finish from 8 yards after a good pull back from Hepburn-Murphy down the left of the area on 80 mins (1-3)A good run from Mills and chip at the near left hand post brought a finger tip save from Steer on 87 but the corner was poor.Hepburn-Murphy forced Belshaw into a near post parry for a corner from his thumping drive on 88 and The Lambs pushed one final time but Steer gathered the ball at height shortly before the final whistle blew.